St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-04-20
HIS LIFE'S WORK DONE.
Sudden Death at New York of Alexan-
der Mitchell, the Railroad and
Banking Magnate.
A Winter of III Health Followed by
Violent Illness and the Final
Catastrophe.
Phil Armour Denies That He VIII Be
the Next President of the
ST. Paul.
Difference OF Opinion Between G. A.
r. Of1cialS--G &c eneral Northwest
ern Intelligence.

New YORK, April 19.-Alexander Mitch
ell, president of the Chicago. Milwaukee q
St Paul railroad, died at 2:30 o'clock this
afternoon at the Hoffman house, where he
has been stopping for the past two weeks.
The immediate cause Of his death was the
failure OF action of the heart. Since De-
cember he had been stopping with his wife
at Alexandria Villa, near Jacksonville,
Fla. When he came to this city with his
old friend, Rev. DR.. Keene, of Milwaukee,
two weeks ago, he was enjoying unusually
good health. For some time he has been
somewhat troubled from the impeded ac-
ing he went out and afterwards had chill.
He caught severe cold which developed
into bronchial pneumonia and. no doubt,
directly affected the hearts action and
caused death. The remains have been enl-
balmed and will be taken to Milwaukee in
his private car, leaving the Grand Central
depot about 6 p. m. tomorrow and arriv-
ing at its destination at 2:30 D. m. on Fri
day. The death of Mr.. Mitchell
was both a surprise and a shock
to his many friends in this city.
Although quite i'll since Friday, no appre.
hension of serious termination was felt
by the attending physicians, who were DR..
Mackie, of Milwaukee; DIR. Bradley and
DR.. JanewaY, until II O'Clock to-day.
Many prominent railway men called at the
hotel this evening. Among others were
Walter S. Gurnee. George r. Seney and
Mr.. Bond. vice president of the road; also
number Of the board of directors, who
will hold special meeting at the off ice of
the company tomorrow. Dr.. Keene to-day
said that the death of Mr.. Mitchell would
be more severely felt than that of almost
any one in the Northwest. In this city he
WAS WIDELY KNOWN,
not only in railway and financial circles,
but in the social world. He was men,
ber of the Union club, and also of the Man
haitian. Mr.. Mitchell was born in Aber-
deem, Scotland, in 1918. He came to this
country, and settled in Milwaukee in 1889.
He at once became identified with the Wis
consn Fire. Marine and Insurance bank.
of which he was president. In 1S49 he be-
came connected with railroading, and later
was made president of the Chicago, Mil
waukee u st. Paul road. The arrangements
for his funeral will not be made till the ar
rival of the remains in Milwaukee. He will
be buried in the Forest Home cemetery.
His wife will proceed direct from florida,
where she is. to her home. John l..
Mitchell and his wife will accompany the
body of his father from New York. In
politics Mr.. Mitchell was a Whig before the
formation of the Republican party. and was
afterWard Republican. He became in
1880 a supporter of the administration of
Andrew johnson, and supported Horatio
Seymour for president in 1868. In 1870 he
was elected member of the lower house
of congress and was reelected in 1872. He
afterward declined further political service
and returned to his business pursuits. In
1876 he wassa Jealous supporter of Samuel
J. Tilden for president, and ii was well
understood that had Tilden secured the
presidency Mr. Mitchell would have been
| secretary of the treasury. He afterward
declined political service. In 1917, while
he was in Europe, he was nominated by
| the Wisconsin Democrats for governor, but
he refused to be candidate.
THE NEWS IN MILWAUKEE.
MILWAUKEE, Wis, April 19.--It was
not till nearly o'clock this afternoon that
credence was given the news of Alexander
Mitchelfs death. David Ferguson, cashier
| of Mr.. Mitchelrs bank, who had been as
| soclated with him for nearly half a century,
was prostrated by the news and it was
| feared at first that he would not recover. as
he is very feeble. The crowds that gath
cred at the bank to make inquiries as to his
death were so large that the doors were
closed early in the evening and guards sta
toned to admit none but intimate friends
and reporters. The first authenticated dis
patch came from John l.. Mitchell, his son.
The gossip among merchants here is CEN
tered principally about the succeSSOrShp to
the presidency of the Chicago, Milwaukee
& st. Paul and the presidency of the Ma
I rine and Fire Insurance bank, of which he
| owned 80 Of the 100 shares. MI. Mitchell's
death has led to the knowledge that
he had about completed arrangements to re-
tire permanently from business by July /,
transferring the responsibilities of his
immense banking business jointly to his
son John l.. Mitchell. his brother. in law,
John Johnston, and David Ferguson, and
! stepping down from the presidency Of the
st. Paul road. This corporation,s when he
first assumed its direction, owned less than
200 miles, and its rails now branch out an
aggregate of 5000 miles.
IT HAS BEEN RUMORED
that the general offices of the road would
be removed to Chicago on Mr.. Mitchells
demise. The charter of the company, how
ever, stipulates their location in Wisconsin.
| and the president must also be resident
of this state, 1t is thought that John
| L i
mour, of Chicago, both of whom are
heavily interested i'll the st. Paul, will sue
ceed Mr.. Mitchell. A magnificent residence
being built here for an unknown owner has
been thought to be designed for Phil
Armour. in anticipation of his succession to
the st. Paul presidency. thus establishing
his residence here in conformity with the
charter provision of the road. Mr.. Mitchell
is survived by wife, who is at present al
her Floridian villa, son, John L., and an
adopted daughter Mrs. DR.. Mackie of this
city, and sister and brother living in
Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Mr.. Mitchelrs
estate is variously estimated at from S10,-
600, 900 to $25, 900, 600. 1t consists largely
of securities of various kinds. Outside hi:
magnificent residence OH Grand avenue, the
chamber OF commerce and the Mitchell
bank buildings he has comparatively small
landed possessions. He is known to have
left will. 1t was made three years ago
but B. K. Miller who drew il up refuses tt
divulge its contents.
Special to the Globe.
ARMOUR WILL SUCCEED HIM.
CHICAGO, April 19.-Though the new:
of Alexander Mitchells unexpected deatl
! at the Hoffman house in New York to-day
| came too late to effect the stock market, i
created considerable excitement among
brokers and those interested in Chicago,
Milwaukee IL St. Paul affairs. MITCHELL.
sudden taking off will precipitate the ar
rangement, but it has been known for some
time by those on the inside that it wa
Mitchell's intention to retire from the presi
dency of the road at the expiration of hi
present term in June next, and that P. d
Armour, the millionaire pork packer, and
next to Mitchell, the largest holder of St